CHOKING. 635 



low tlie demulcent liquid, the mass witliin tlie oesophagus is to be 

 broken up by gently rubbing the neck, and by pushing it upwards 

 and downwards by gentle manipulation. The practice of having 

 the throat rubbed by a strong broomstick, worked upwards and 

 downwards by two powerful fellows with might and m-xin, as if 

 a horse were made of iron, and not of flesh and blood, cannot be 

 too liiglily censured. The manipulation must be directly over 

 the impaction, and ought to be performed by the veterinary 

 surgeon's own hands. 



In one case of choking with locust beans, bran, and chaff, in 

 which the symptoms of distress were very severe, and called for im- 

 mediate relief, the following method proved eminently successful : 

 — Water was administered until the oesophagus became quite full 

 above the seat of the impaction. Tliis induced a violent fit of 

 coughing ; the whole of the fluid was thus forcibly ejected, along 

 "with some of the impacted mass. The process was repeated after 

 short intervals of rest. Each fit of coughing brought up more 

 and more of the solid materials with the water until the whole 

 mass was thus got rid of. It may be mentioned that the horse 

 became very lestive, and fought against the water being intro- 

 duced through his mouth. I wets consequently forced to give it 

 by the nostrils. 



I recommend this method where the symptoms demand 

 immediate relief as being safe and effectual The water ought 

 to be giveu by the mouth if possible, but if this be impossible, 

 tlirough the nostrils, as there is no danger if carefully ^ser- 

 formed. 



Wlien the offending body is a turnip, carrot, egg, potato, a 

 baU, or other object that may be removed with safety by pres- 

 sure from within the gullet, and when removal by manipulation 

 und by swallowing liquids has failed, the probang must be 

 brought into operation. 



Probangs are of various sizes, and may be purchased from the 

 instrument makers. I therefore need not describe them further 

 than to say that horsp-s require a smaller one than horned cattle, 

 and that a stillet with a screw at the end may be occasionally 

 required. The introduction of the probang into the oesophagus 

 of the horse is very difficult, and it is generally necessary to 

 " cast" the animal In the cow this difficulty is not experienced ; 

 a g,\Q in the mouth, and two or three strong feUows to hold the 



